In transportation there is a constant need to look ahead. What needs will emerge over the next 25 years? What new technologies will influence how the transportation system operates? How will necessary improvements be funded?

One of the ways the Arizona Department of Transportation looks to the future is “What Moves You Arizona,” the Long-Range Transportation Plan updated every five years. And public input is needed to do that.

ADOT has developed an interactive online survey that’s easy and engaging. It gives people the opportunity to rank six transportation priorities: preservation, expansion, safety, technology, accessibility, and maintenance and operations. A budget is presented and participants determine how much of it to allocate for each priority.

Then decide tradeoff scenarios that further define priorities.

This survey lets people experience what officials face as transportation planners: setting priorities and making difficult choices with limited resources.

Those who’ve participated so far have ranked safety and expansion highly. And when it comes to managing funds, preservation and expansion get the most dollars for transportation investments.

But more input is needed. The survey is available until Friday, Nov. 11 at whatmovesyouarizona.metroquest.com.

It only takes a few minutes and can be completed on a computer, smartphone or tablet. A Spanish-language version of the survey is also available via the link.

While ADOT’s Long-Range Transportation Plan isn’t project-specific, it does identify investment priorities based on current and projected transportation funding over the next 25 years.

It’s up to the public, policymakers and communities to tell ADOT what’s important to them throughout the long-range planning process, and to prioritize projects and funding.

Visit azdot.gov/WhatMovesYouArizona for more information on ADOT’s Long-Range Transportation Plan and to leave a comment. The website also lists study milestones, including a full summary of 12 workshops held earlier this year around the state.

The final version of the plan is expected to be complete in early 2017.